“I have been working as a vendor at Aabpara for the last 42 years. Earlier, it was my part time work but 16 years ago I retired from the ministry of petroleum and started working full time as my pension was not enough to make ends meet.

In winter, I work from 8am to 10pm. In the morning, I work in the junkyard where I sell and purchase old and rusty goods. I earn Rs300 to Rs500 daily.

I came from Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the early 70s and got a government job as a naib qasid. I retired in 2004. I did not know any skill to eke out a livelihood for my family which is why I established a stall where I sold caps and socks as well as other hosiery items in winter. In summers, I earned money from a weighing machine and selling socks.

I have two sons and two daughters. My sons are government employees but I do not depend on them. I earn money for myself and my wife. Besides, this work also keeps me busy.

I visited Karachi in 1960 and worked in a house there. My first salary was Rs10 but back then it was enough for my family. However, with the passage of time, inflation increased and people like me had to put in more effort to earn extra money.

I do not have a fixed place where I work. Sometimes I sit in Aabpara Market and at times at the weekly bazaars. If I have to go further, I request my neighbour to drop me off on his motorcycle. I earn the most at the bazaars as a lot of people come there.

I keep half of my earnings and give the rest to my wife. She is saving money for Umrah as it is our greatest desire to visit the holy land.”

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2020